A group of avid knitters and crocheters meet every week at St. Andrew’s United Church to create a number of goods to give back to the community.
“The group meets every Wednesday from about 9:30-11:30 a.m. mostly at our meeting room at the church — the first Wednesday of the month they meet at the Pleasant View Lodge,” said St. Andrew’s minister Lisa Waites, who added that the church does not organize the group — they just offer a place to get some work done. “The group is made up of a number of congregats from our church and I know there’s some from other churches as well — there’s a number of community members who come out as well.
“The group knits prayer shawls and sometimes even does full blankets.”
Waites says there are a number of uses for the things created by the group.
“These things are given out when babies are born, at baptisms, confirmations, high school graduations and for folks in need who are ill,” she said. “I often take a prayer shawl or blanket with me when I go and visit the hospital or at places like nursing homes, long term care homes and to some folks who are shut in.”
A member of the group also works on jean quilts and donates them to the local women’s shelter when they’re completed.
Waites says the group has been working on creating these various items for a number of years and has created far more than 1,000 pieces in that time.
“This is a collaborative group made up of a lot of people of faith, but everyone is welcome,” she said. “There’s a number of very experienced knitters and crocheters who are willing to teach people who may not have much, or any experience at all — that inter-generational aspect is really great.”
Waites says this is a very important group within the community.
“This is just a very positive way to spend time,” she said. “I know the group has a lot of fun doing what they do and they’re also addressing a need in the community.”